Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-02-12
A SENSIBLE GIRL.

| uttered InCTGSd Nli't,llOtOii. niN'
to think that little Blanche Follett
should have been the first OF the
graduating class to wear an en-
gagement ring"
It was rather strange. The three
girls sat side by side on the broad
veranGa Of the Acapelco Hotel at
Long Branch-Theresa Middleton,
tall. handsome and stylish, with
lefty hair, large dark eyes, and vel
low roses in her hair; Sophie Dean,
slight and graceful, a type of the
most exquisite blonde loveliness:
and Blanche Toilette, the fiance Of
the group, an insignificant chest
nut haired lassic, pretty enough
when some one came to examine
her features, but nothing beyond
the average.
"How soon are you to he mar
ried. Blancheg" asked Sophie.
~ don't know. AS soon as Guys
father returns from Europe, | sup
pose"
"And are You to have yonr trous.
scau from Paris? O, dear, ! wish it
was I, said, Theresa, enviously.-
s.You scheming lutte thing! Who
would have suspected You of capt. :
waiting rich huSband?' e
81 don't care whether he is rlch
or not.n said Blanche, firing up. II
only know that I love him. That
is enough.
at wouldn't be enough for me-"
said Theresa. ~ must have cash
as we'll as carcsses. But come,
girls. it's time to dress for tea
Those handsome young Cubans will
sit opposite us again, and even q
handkerchief filtration is better
than nothing. Blanche won't JOIN
MS. hut we don't care for that"
"What funny old man, all in
snuff cclor, that was that sat next
us this afternoon at dinner!p
laughed Sophie. "And how he
stared at us. l shouldn't wonder
ifhe we're some rich widower.n
aBerri1 old foggly!n said TheEE:
esa. .sDo you know, girls, he has
taken the room next to ours! | saw
them carrying an antediluvian
trunk in there a little while ago.
|
Depend upon it he's the first cousin
to Methusaleh! Pm sure | don't
know what such wretched old crea'
lures want at place like Long
Branch. Why don't they stay at
home and nurse their rheumatism
in their own back garrets?'
"Hush, Theresa" whispered Miss
Follett, glancing around. "He is
sitting on the other bench, just be
yond. He will hear you"
"Who cares if he does9" said
Miss Middleton, insolent in the
pride and flush Of her young beau
ty.
The gray-haired old man who
had been sitting with both hands
clasped over his gold headed cane
and his eyes intently fixed on the
changing glories Of the sunset sea
looked up here.
al suppose, young lady," said he
"you think that the old have nc
business to exist. Perhaps when
half a century or more bas rolled
over your own head you may think
differently on the subject"
Theresa colored and tossed heI
head. Sophie Dean Uttered as she
rose and shook out her founced
muslin robes preparatory to going
npstairs but Blanche fingered be,
hind after the other two had swept
away and glanced pleadingly up il
the old mans face.
81 hope they have not hurt your
feelings, sir,' she said wistfully.-
They mean no harm, only they art
young and foolish" ;,
"No, my dear, no;n said the OLE
man kindly. "You, at all events
have a gentler nature and womanl.
temperament"
The August moon was at the full
that night, and long after midnigh
Sophie and Theresa were practicins
on the guitar and singing senti
mental songs, when a waiter tap
ped at the door with a message. :.
"Plea.e, miss, 49's compliment
and 'e has bad 'eadache AM
can't sleep, and wouldn't the younI
ladies obllge him by leavin' hot
asinging."
sWhat nonsensew cried There's
sharply. "Everyone is free to d
as be or she likes in hotel, | be
ilicve."
"Theresa,D pleaded kind-hearte'
little Blanche, "if the >old gentle
man has a headache"
"Pshaw! A regular fussy oil
bachelor" said Sophie, petulantly
"to spoil our practice III this way.
For Blanche was resolute IN II
sisting that the guitar should D
put away, and so the two prett
girls went grumbllng to bed.
ssWhat do you think?" exclaime
Sophie, coming in the next morl
ing, dripping and radiant from to
bath. sold 40 Is sick! The do
tor was there half an hour ago, an
/ Just saw the waiter carrying &c
for his head"
"Some horrid fever!n cried Thel
esa, turning pale. 81 mean t
change to some other hotel at one
Blauche-where is Blanche! WI